So the second toile of the tweed wedding dress is looking pretty good, though I say it myself!

It was a long fitting, as the woman concerned just didn't want to take it off.....! But the general fit was good, and an extra foot has been added onto the train, so now the foundation (or 'stays', as they were called in past times), can be made with boning inserted and checked for the right shaping. We're going for that 'flat' look of the centre front panel, a la 18th century, with no cleavage, but a 'pressed up' look to the bosom. Just need a whole free day or two to get it on the go. Sorry, no pics :-(

Fitting in with the teaching is always a challenge, but it CAN be done of course! :-) On that subject, had one of my students in today, and she has totally got it in a few classes - the pattern cutting that is. We have made a size 12 block, a personal block to her own size and shape, (involving two toiles), and we're well on the way with a pattern for an idea she has. It's really great when you can see that someone now has the basic knowledge, literally at her fingertips(!), to create clothes from their own ideas. She's a music student - does this have any bearing on things?!!

OK, you can see I'm getting desperate for images here! Below is a curvy ruler. I got one of these a few months ago, having been meaning to for years really. You may wonder about the usefulness of such an item, but.....and those that do pattern cutting will know what I mean - a patternmaster is often too tight a curve for large pattern pieces, and this curvy ruler has been sooooo useful :-) Why didn't I get one years ago?Speak soon!